Education and Resources for Growers

Nova Scotia New Farmer

The Nova Scotia New Farmers website has resources to support current and future farmers. Browse training and resources such as a guide for new farmers and business planning. Find useful information like supplier lists.

Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture

The Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture can provide expert advice for your farm. Their services are available to anyone in Nova Scotia who is farming or thinking of starting a farm.

Perennia Food and Agriculture Inc.

Perennia offers government-supported no fee services to eligible Nova Scotia producers who own a provincially-registered farm operation and are producing for commercial sale.

Tree Fruit Resources from Perennia

Perennia’s Tree Fruit Specialist for Farm Extension

Perennia’s Tree Fruit Specialist, Michelle Cortens, is a resource to producers in all aspects of conventional and organic horticulture systems for tree fruit crops including apple, pear, peach, plum, cherry, and tree nut. Her extension activities include responding to farm inquiries, conducting applied research, hosting production workshops & tours, and publishing factsheets and the Orchard Outlook newsletter. Michelle serves on production, research, and education-related committees with the Nova Scotia Fruit Growers’ Association.

Orchard Outlook Newsletters

The Orchard Outlook is a horticultural newsletter published weekly from April to July. The newsletter includes timely information about plant development, pests, and management recommendations. General horticulture information is published in year-round editions of The Root Newsletter. Sign up to receive the newsletters.

Orchard Outlook Podcasts

Tangible, practical advice and information. Orchard Outlook is a podcast by Perennia Food and Agriculture Inc. hosted by Michelle Cortens. These insightful discussions can help any grower navigate commercial tree fruit production for sweet success. Listen to the podcast.

Publications and Fact Sheets

For the latest publications and fact sheets, visit the Tree Fruit page on the Perennia website and click on the drop down menu ‘Perennia Publication and Fact Sheets’. There you will find resources on Best Management Guides, Pest Management, Physiology, Nutrition, and Business and Economics.

Pest Management Guides

Each year, a new guide is published to summarize current registrations of pest control products. For the latest guides visit the Tree Fruit page on the Perennia website and click on the drop down menu ‘Perennia Pest Management Guide’. There you will find guides for Pome Fruit, Stone Fruit, Organic Apple, Weed Management, and Thinning and Growth Regulation. Always refer to and follow directions on the product label. Labels can be found at Health Canada’s Pesticide Label Search.